When the topic of fertility treatment is discussed, many people may start to worry what financial burden may accompany the process. IVF/ICSI, egg freezing, sperm donor treatment etc. are all vital lifelines for those unable to conceive naturally and, here at The Hewitt Fertility Centre, we believe that everyone should be able to receive the treatment that they deserve - no matter what their financial situation may be.
Clinical Commissioning Groups
With budgetary restraints on the NHS forcing numerous hospitals and trusts to re-evaluate their funding priorities, access to NHS funded fertility treatment has become increasingly difficult for many people.
The Clinical Commissioning Groups, or CCGs, are the governing bodies responsible for setting the regional NHS budget. A large number of these CCGs have significantly tightened the criteria and entitlements surrounding fertility treatment in England.
In previous years, what is now considered to be “The Gold Standard” of fertility treatment – 3 full cycles of NHS funded IVF treatment – was commonplace. Today it is offered by only around 10% of the individual CCGs in England; a figure which has halved in the last 5 years. Some CCGs have terminated NHS funding for fertility treatment altogether, or placed unrealistic barriers such as female age 34 or less, meaning that those who may be in dire need of the miraculous treatment will have no option but to try to find the money to fund their own treatment.
Thankfully, as it stands, CCGs in the North West of England are continuing to offer NHS funded fertility treatment for now for those who may be suffering with the pain of fertility problems but have no means to pursue private treatment, although the fertility policy is under review annually.
Private Funding
While increasingly restricted, thankfully NHS funding is still available for many of those who need it. However, many people have the financial capabilities to privately fund their own treatment, giving them the opportunity to have greater control over how many IVF cycles they pursue, their appointment times, and their choice of consultant.
Here at The Hewitt Fertility Centre, an increasing amount of patients visit us to pursue private treatment. With treatment facilities amongst the most advanced in the UK and competitive prices, we are just as capable and effective – if not more so – than many specialist private clinics.
Finance options – Access Fertility
If you are one of the many people who do not qualify for NHS funded treatment and are unable to afford privately funding your own treatment, then there are still options available to you. As previously mentioned, here at The Hewitt Fertility Centre, we are committed to ensuring that as many people as possible can gain access to the treatment that they need, and it is in that spirit that we have teamed up with the amazing people at Access Fertility. Access Fertility have established themselves as one of the market leaders in offering funding packages and refund programs for those undergoing IVF and other fertility treatments. Their suite of fertility finance options is proving very popular with couples.
Access Fertility gives people an invaluable peace of mind when undergoing an uncertain procedure like IVF. Especially for those who may not have the financial capabilities to undergo multiple cycles. With the UK average success rate for live birth per cycle initiated at 23% across all age groups (source HFEA) it is likely that most patients will need multiple IVF cycles in order to have a baby. Their aim is to give you peace of mind that you have a plan in place to help you achieve your dream.
They have refund programme options for all patients aged under 40 years old. The acceptance rate for the Access Fertility IVF Refund Programme is 90% and they do not ask patients to undertake any unnecessary or costly additional testing for any of their programmes. They have recently introduced an ‘unlimited IVF’ option which is worth looking into for eligible couples (as restrictions do apply).
